Hahn and Black Community

In response to Bill Boyarsky’s column “Hahn Salute Foreshadows End of Era” (Metro, Sept. 21):

The first portion of this article was very complimentary to Supervisor Kenneth Hahn and deservedly so.

Boyarsky reported the comments of Drs. Joseph Griffin and E.V. Hill, in which they stated that Supervisor Hahn, although a white man representing the 2nd District which is predominantly black, “that the matter of color has never been brought up.” If the question is asked of any voter in the 2nd District, regardless of color, about Supervisor Hahn’s public service commitment, the answer would be the same. “Supervisor Hahn is the greatest public servant we know. He cares about people.” He serves all fairly and equally and that’s understood!

Boyarsky did an outstanding job in reporting about Hahn and how the people feel about him.

But the column went downhill when Boyarsky addressed the issue of confrontation between blacks and other minority groups and the delivery of health care at Martin Luther King Hospital. He wrote “black political power is waning in Los Angeles. The tide of demography is running against blacks. . . . They are being replaced by Latinos and Asians.”

Boyarsky states, “There is potential for divisiveness, and perhaps the most delicate issue is health care. The poor from all three groups suffer from a shortage of public health care, and black leaders fear their community’s poor may be thrust into a losing competition for hospital and clinic care with impoverished Latinos and Asians.” These statements are inflammatory.

Demography is changing all over the county, the state and the nation. More Third World people are moving in and the numbers are growing. The community that has the most to fear is the community that has the most to lose, and that is not the black community. The black community is committed to working with Asians and Latinos. I believe there is no hostility among people who want to work together--and they will. They should just be left alone.

As to Martin Luther King Hospital, Hahn is correct when he blamed the shortage of funds for the hospital’s problems. I worked as his deputy for 12 years and I have firsthand knowledge that monies that were needed for appropriate services and equipment were never provided. However, the hospital administration, doctors and nurses working with the bare minimum always did the best job under adverse circumstances.

King Hospital is not the only hospital in the county system that’s been on conditional accreditation. For example, County-USC Medical Center is currently on the status of conditional accreditation; the High Desert Hospital, formerly Mira Loma, lost its accreditation. Simply put, mostly poor people are required to go to county hospitals, but the “downtown Hall of Administration” doesn’t always provide sufficient funding for staffing and equipment.

Doctors and nurses have to work hard enough. They should not be blamed for the shortsightedness of bureaucrats.

Writing Hahn off for reelection is a mistake. That decision still remains with Hahn and the people of the 2nd District. I know Rep. Julian Dixon (D-Los Angeles) is a good person; he is my congressman. However, the reporter went a little too far in selecting by inference Hahn’s successor. That right shall always remain with the people.

NATE HOLDEN

Councilman, 10th District

Los Angeles